Monday, August 2, 2010

A fine Canadian thing to do. Just sitting round the campfire chatting with the neighbours.

They had an effigy on the bonfire which was an old scarecrow that the kids had made. It reminded me of the tradition of the British Bonfire Night which is held on November 5th to celebrate the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. This was an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. One of the conspirators was Guy Fawkes and effigies on bonfires in Britain are called 'Guys'. It used to be that kids would make their guy and then parade down the streets asking for money - 'a penny for the guy'. This doesn't happen very much now, it's seen as begging and children are no longer allowed to buy fireworks. It's also been replaced pretty much by Halloween trick or treating.

There are private and organised firework displays with food, jacket potatoes wrapped in foil and cooked in the fire- they always burn - sausages, apples, beans, ginger cake. It usually a cold and wet November evening but it's fun. Our neighbours liked the sound of it all so we are going to have a Bonfire Night Party in November. I'm looking forward to that.

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